Line tightener



Sept. 11, 1923.

- c. BREER LINE TIGHTENER Filed Dec. 9, 1921 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEYPatented Sept. ll, 1923.

" CARL BREER, or SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

LINE TIGHTENER.

'Application filed December 9, 1921. Serial No. 521,140.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL Bnnnn, a citizen of the United States, residingat Sum mit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Line Tighteners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is designed to form a convenient instrument which may beattached to a line to tighten it, the instrument being supported by theline.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as followsFig. 1 shows a plan view.

Fig. 2 a circumferential section of the locking device in lockingposition. i

Fig. 3 a similar section of the same device in position to release theclothes line.

Fig. i a side elevation, partly in vertical section.

1 marks the line and 2 a line engaging device which as shown is anordinary clothes pin provided with a slot 3 through which the line -2 ispassed. The pin extends through a bushing 4 and is locked with thebushing by means of a pin 5 extending through the slot 3 of the pin.

A plate 6 is journaled on the bushing at and has the outwardly extendingarms with hooks 7 adapted to hook over a line.-

A plate 8 is locked on the bushing at and is provided with wings 8 bymeans of which the bushing may be turned relatively to the plate 6rotating with it the pin 2. In operation the line is passed into theslot 3 and the hooks 7 placed over the line as clearly shown in Fig. 4and by twisting the pin 2 the line may be wound up so as to tighten it,the device hooking on the line.

In order to lock the device with the line tightened a ratchet mechanismis preferably supplied. A pocket 9 is formed in the plate 8. The rearface of the pocket is slanting at 10. The front face of the pocket isabrupt at 11. A pocket 12 is arranged in the late 6 in position to bebrought into register with the pocket 9. The pocket 12 has an abruptshoulder 13 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A locking ball 14: is arrangedin the pocket 12 and is adapted when the pockets are brought intoregister to lock the plates against a return movement through itsengagement with the shoulders 11 and 13. As the plate 8 is rotatingforward the slanting surface 10 acting as a cam lifts the ball 14 intothe pocket 12, thus permitting the continued forward movement of theplate. "When, however, the plate 8 tends to move in a rearward directionunder the strain of theloop the ball drops into the pocket 9 and actingas before stated on the shoulders 11 and 13 locks the plate.

When it is desired to release the line it is reversed bringing the plate8 at the top. A slight forward movement of the plate 8 will release theball 14: permitting it to drop into the pocket'12 as clearly shown inFig. 3 inwhich position the plate 8 may be readily rotated permittingthe rope to unwind on the pin.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a line tightener, the combination of a winding reel; a mounting onwhich the reel is journaled; means on the mounting adapted to engage aline to lock the mounting therewith; a winding arm secured to and lockedwith the reel; and a releasable ratchet device between the arm andmountmg.

2. In a line tightener, the combination of a winding reel; a mounting onwhich the reel is journaled, said mounting having a ball socket therein;means on the mounting adapted to engage a line to lock-the mountingtherewith; a winding arm locked with the reel and containing a ballsocket adapted to register with the socket in the mounting; and a ballin the sockets, said ball engaging the walls of the sockets to form aratchet.

3. In a line tightener, the combination of a winding reel; a mountingplate on which the reel is journaled, said plate having a ball socketstruck up in. the plate; means on the mounting plate adapted to engage aline to lock the plate therewith; a winding plate locked with the reeland having a ball socket struck up therein; and a ball arranged in saidsockets and operating in the walls thereof to form a ratchet.

4. In a line tightener, the combination of a winding reel; a mounting onwhich the reel is journaled; means on the mounting adapted to engage aline to lock the mounting therewith; a winding arm locked with the reel;and a ratchet device permanently secured between the mounting and thearm locking the arm againsta return movement with the mounting in oneposition and releasing the arm relatively to the mounting with themounting turned to another position with the line as an axis.

5. In a line tightener, the combination of a winding reel; a mounting onwhich the reel is journaled; means on the mounting adapted to engage aline to lock the mounting therewith; a winding arm locked with the reel;and a ratchet device permanently secured between the mounting and thearm locking the arm against a return movement with the mounting in oneposition and releasing the arm relatively to the mounting with themounting turned to an inverted position with the line as an axis.

6. In a line tightener, the combination of a clothes pin; a supportforthe clothes pin; a mounting in which the support is journaled; means onthe mounting for lockin it with the line; a Winding arm locked with saidsupport; and means for releasing and locking the arm with the mounting.

7. In a line tightener, the combination of a slotted reel a mountingplate on which the reel is journaled having hooked ends for engaging aline and having a ball receiving socket therein; a Winding plate fixedon the reel, said winding plate having a ratchet ball socket; and alocking ball in the sockets adapted to form a ratchet with the device inone position and to release the reel with the device inverted.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL BREER.

